New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski at a March game in Boston between the Celtics and Atlanta Hawks. / Mark L. Baer, USA TODAY Sports

by Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sports

by Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sports

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski might require a fourth surgery on his previously broken forearm to help clear up an infection but a decision has not yet been made on that front, a person informed of Gronkowski's status told USA TODAY Sports on Sunday.

The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak about Gronkowski's recovery, said doctors are still discussing non-surgical options and are still a few weeks from determining whether Gronkowski's infection will clear after finishing a cycle of antibiotics.

The Boston Herald reported Sunday that Gronkowski could be in danger of missing the season opener because there will be a 10-week recovery period after a new plate is installed. The report stated doctors won't be able to put the new plate in Gronkowski's arm if the infection hasn't cleared.

But the person informed of Gronkowski's status told USA TODAY Sports there are no scheduled surgeries at this point, not even to install a new plate.

Gronkowski had his first surgery after breaking his left forearm in November while he was blocking for an extra point late in a blowout victory against the Indianapolis Colts. Gronkowski had another operation after he re-broke the bone early in the playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Gronkowski's third surgery, in the offseason, was to help clear out the infection that has yet to subside.

"I'm doing a lot better, definitely," Gronkowski said late last month during an interview with ESPN Radio. "Feeling a lot better. My arm is feeling way better than it was during the playoffs and regular season when I broke it.

"Right now, just rehabbing, getting the muscle stronger around it. You want to get everything activated, re-activated, because it shuts down for a little bit when it's healing. Just rehabbing, and when my trainers give me the 'good to go,' hopefully in the next couple weeks, hopefully as soon as possible ... I can get rolling again and get back in the weight room and get back on the field and do what I love doing â?? running around and catching some balls."

It's clear Gronkowski is still at least a few weeks from those activities. Whether he's a few months away, and whether Week 1 is truly in question, will be known later this month.